Joachim Blichfeld has been injured during the second relegation match between Denmark and Belarus. The nineteen-year-old forward was representing his native Denmark in the World Junior Championship taking place in Buffalo, NY.
Scott Matla, of SB Nation’s Eyes on the Prize, was covering the game and provided us a recap of the injury.
As Blichfeld went to clear the puck through the neutral zone by the benches he turned his back to Belarus’ Dmitri Deryabin. Deryabin continued through with his hit, launching Blichfeld into the boards, with his upper back and head area taking the majority of the impact. After moving his legs slightly he laid still on the ice as the training staff jumped on to the ice and signaled for the stretcher.
After being loading onto the stretcher, Blichfeld gave a thumbs up and seemed to be fully conscious as he left the ice, blinking and moving his eyes.
Deryabin was give a five minute major and match penalty for boarding on the play, Blichfeld had two primary assists on a pair of first period goals by Denmark.
Other writers covering the match took to Twitter with updates concerning Blichfeld and the hit by Belarus’ Deryabin.
Mike Morreale, a staff writer for the NHL, provided the time of injury and an update on Deryabin’s penalty.
Denmark left wing Joachim Blichfeld (SJS) was taken off the ice on a stretcher w/ 9:15 left in 2nd after being hit by BLR D Dmitri Deryabin along the sideboards. Match penalty/boarding; Blichfeld hit his head into boards, very scary. He gave thumbs up being wheeled off ice.
— Mike Morreale (@mikemorrealeNHL) January 4, 2018
A standout on the team with three goals and three assists, Blichfeld’s absence means that Denmark will need to hone their scoring ability. The game is currently tied at 2-2 in the third period. If Denmark were to clinch the game, they would avoid regulation for next year’s World Junior tournament, as reported by Mark Masters of TSN.
Scary moment as 🇩🇰 Joachim Blichfeld hit into boards & needs to be stretchered off … 🇧🇾 Dmitri Deryabin has been ejected
Portland forward did give thumbs up as he was wheeled off
This is Game 2 of the relegation round, Denmark can clinch series & leads 2-0 in 2nd period
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) January 4, 2018
Mike Ashmore of The Trentonian reported that Blichfeld never lost consciousness after his collision with the boards — a silver lining to a scary turn of events for Denmark.
Joachim Blichfeld was the player down. He flashed a thumbs up as he was getting stretchered off…looked as though went hard into the boards back first. To clarify, the replay indicated he never seemed to lose consciousness. https://t.co/73z2RVWNUU
— Mike Ashmore (@mashmore98) January 4, 2018
We’ll update this story as details emerge concerning the nature of Blichfeld’s injury.
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